Best of the Cahier Archive: Jochen Rindt

Last week, on the 18th of April, it was Jochen Rindt’s birthday – so it’s time to celebrate the life of a great racer! Let’s take a look back at his time on the track through the inspirational imagery of the Cahier Archive.

Already a 24 Hours of Le Mans winner in 1965, Rindt’s Formula One career started to show its potential in the late ’60s, when he finally got into a car that could keep up with his talents. He won his first Grand Prix with a comprehensive pole, fastest lap and race win lockout in the 1969 Grand Prix of the United States of America at Watkins Glen. He’d picked up second at Monza and third in Canada earlier in the season and finished fourth in the drivers’ championship.

By the time he and his innovative Lotus 72 arrived in the paddock at Monza for the tenth round of the 1970 world championship, he had won five races and was sitting on a commanding championship lead. He would not make the starting grid, however – a mechanical failure during final practice sent him swerving into the barriers before parabolyica. He was pronounced dead in hospital at just 28 years old – another great gone too soon.

He wasn’t finished with Formula One, however. Jacky Ickx was coming on strong in the back half of the season and had won in Austria the round before Rindt was killed. He won again in Canada and would win the final round of the season in Mexico. His wins in Austria and Canada put him within sight of the championship, but Rindt’s Lotus teammate – a young Emerson Fittipaldi – had something to say about that. He took the win at Watkins Glen, the round Rindt had dominated so confidently for his first Grand Prix win the year before, ensuring that Rindt would not be surpassed.

And with that, Jochen Rindt won the 1970 Formula One World Championship, becoming the only driver to be awarded the title posthumously.

This is the latest in our series of photo specials showcasing the stunning images from the Cahier Archive. The collection, by photographers Bernard Cahier and his son Paul-Henri are part of a massive collection of 400 000 originals of which 17 000+ pictures are currently available on their website.